Whether you like birding with others, learning new skills, helping out, or just meeting other people who share your interest, there are lots of ways you can get involved in Dorset.

How you can help Dorset Bird Club

The Club is run by a small unpaid Committee and is heavily reliant on our enthusiastic team of volunteers. There are many ways you can join this ever-growing team. We always need more people to help us make the Club as relevant and important as possible for our members and for conservation. In particular at the moment we need help with:

• Website management and updating - we’re keeping on top of it despite lack of website expertise and are greatly in need of additional 'tech' help.
• BirdTrack Ambassador - we encourage all birders in the county to submit their records either via BirdTrack or e-Bird. This not only means that the data helps conservation science and informs the annual Bird Report, but both are also brilliant tools for logging a birder’s own records for future review and reflection.  Ambassadors can help with advice to newcomers and can promote the adoption of these brilliant tools. The Club already has an e-Bird ambassador.
• Administrative support - for example, to help with managing membership and publicising meetings and events.
• Partnerships - strong links with other bird- and nature-related organisations are essential for us to help birds and birdwatchers. We need to someone to strengthen existing partnerships and build new ones.

There are many other ways you can help support the Club. Here are just a few examples:

• Writers – Good articles are always welcome for the e-Bulletin, but please discuss with the editors first.
• Conservationists – the Bird Club supports various conservation projects and we’d welcome people who can help us make a difference.
• Experienced birders – if you’ve been birding for several years, think what you could do to help newer birders. How about setting up a local birding group, running local bird walks, join our Forum or help answer i.d. queries on social media?

And above all, of course, you can help by sending in your bird records or entering them in BirdTrack or eBird, and by taking part in the crucially important BTO surveys to help monitor our bird populations.

Surveying

There is plenty of opportunity for people to get out surveying birds. BTO are always looking for people to help with their important national surveys - you don't have to be a BTO member to take part.

More people are needed to undertake monthly counts at some of our inland wetlands as part of the BTO Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS). See message below from Dorset organiser Nicky Hoar:

WeBS surveyors monitor the UK's internationally important non-breeding waterbirds in a long term survey run by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) with RSPB and JNCC .   Volunteers are needed to count waterbirds once a month on core Sunday dates at a number of inland sites in Dorset.   This vital work provides data on abundance and distribution to help inform conservation efforts.  You can find out more and see the current vacant sites at https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/wetland-bird-survey   or email Nicky Hoar, BTO WeBS Local Organiser, Dorset (excluding estuaries) on nicola.hoar@yahoo.com.

And there are a good number of 1-km squares available for the national BTO Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), which requires two visits a year to the square in spring and early summer, walking along set routes to record every bird seen or heard. Details of available squares can be obtained from  Pete Cadogan, BTO Regional Representative for Dorset pcadogan361@gmail.com. You can also visit https://app.bto.org/bbs/public/request-square.jsp to see where there are vacant squares.

Young birders

The Bird Club is very pleased to announce a joint venture to support young birders across Dorset. From 1st August 2022 we have joined forces with CHOG to offer free membership of both clubs to anyone under 25. There will be reciprocal arrangements, so that anyone joining one club will be invited to join the other at the same time. This new venture is part of a collaborative, supported by the BTO Youth Team, which we hope will extend to other organisations in Dorset over time. The youth collaborative will also support BTO-led events for young people, some of which have already taken place. Samuel Levy of BTO Youth Team says "All these events will help to increase the representation of young people across the bird clubs and help us create a more welcoming environment, while encouraging our young members to help us shape our events and membership so that they get the most from their experience". Read what he has to say about it here:

Samuel Levy writes about new joint venture for young birders in Dorset

Female birders

Also we've set up a WhatsApp group for female birders in Dorset. The ‘Lady Birders’ group has been set up to help people get more from their shared enjoyment of birding. Through the group they can arrange to meet each other, go to bird meetings and events together, send in photos and sound recordings for identification, and build friendships. The aim is to create a friendly space where everyone can chat, get to know one another, and feel comfortable. If you're interested in joining and are a Bird Club member please contact veritypixiehill@gmail.com.

Wildlife Volunteering

If you're interested in helping with wildlife conservation there are opportunities through a number of voluntary and public sector bodies. Here are a few:

Dorset Countryside Volunteers, an independent group of volunteers who undertake work associated with the countryside and conservation, on behalf of charities and other organisations involved in conservation. They have tasks most weekends throughout the year, across the county.  See https://www.dcv.org.uk/

Dorset Wildlife Trust offer a great many opportunities, and have volunteer teams in most parts of Dorset. See their volunteer pages at https://www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-do/volunteering

Kingfisher Barn in the Stour Valley in north Bournemouth, have plenty of ways to be involved if yiou're interested in volunteering https://www.visitstourvalley.co.uk/support/volunteer-opportunities.aspx

RSPB welcome volunteers at their reserves, especially Arne where there is a residential volunteer programme. Worth asking locally at Arne or the Weymouth reserves (Lodmoor and Radipole Lake) about current volunteering opportunities, or visit their national page at https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/volunteering-fundraising/volunteer/

Upton Country Park have volunteers for gardening and for practical conservation, and also for projects - see https://uptoncountrypark.com/get-involved/volunteering/

And check the Countryside Jobs Service website for the latest round-up of volunteering jobs in the conservation/outdoor sector nationwide https://www.countryside-jobs.com/cjs-focus/current-edition

Local birding and wildlife groups

Some areas have local networks to share news or to support less experienced birders. If there isn’t one in your area, why not set one up? Some groups have found WhatsApp to be a great way to communicate. Let us know if there’s a group you’d like listed.

Bridport Bird Club

About us: The Bridport Bird Club was started in 2021 and comprises a small group of local birders carrying out surveys and bird related conservation projects in the Bridport and West Bay area of West Dorset. New members very welcome!

o Website: Bridportbirdclub.blogspot.com

o email: peteforrest81@gmail.com

o Twitter: N/A

o Facebook: N/A

CHOG – Christchurch Harbour Ornithological Group

About us: With over 600 members, CHOG is dedicated to recording, promoting and conserving the wildlife of the Christchurch Harbour area. Members enjoy a free copy of the annual, 120-page publication, the Birds of Christchurch Harbour, as well as access to several indoor and outdoor events each year. www.CHOG.org.uk/Join

o Website: www.CHOG.org.uk Updated daily with sightings news

o email: secretary@CHOG.org.uk

o Twitter: @CHOG_birds

o Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/chog.org.uk

Dorchester Bird Group

About us: The Dorchester Bird Group started in 2023. We are a group of local birders sharing knowledge about the birds of Dorchester and its surrounding area, with the aim of supporting conservation activities. There are informal meetings and events - new members are always very welcome!

o Website: N/A

o email: Nigel Tooth  - nigeltooth@hotmail.co.uk

o Twitter: N/A

o Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1240872289972524

Lytchett Bay Nature Partnership

About us: Lytchett Bay and its surroundings provide habitats for a huge diversity of wildlife as well as open spaces for people to enjoy a variety of activities. Almost all the land surrounding the Bay is now in sympathetic conservation minded ownership. The management and creation of a 'Nature Partnership' is a public expression of the intention of the parties to work together to manage the area for its special features.

o Website: N/A

o email: shaun.narwhal@btinternet.com  (Chair of partnership)

o Twitter: @LytchettP

o Facebook: Friends of Lytchett Bay

Poundbury Nature Watch

About us: Poundbury Nature watch was established late 2016 with the intent to encourage people to look at and report the birds that were being seen in and around Poundbury, our gardens and the immediate locale defined by geographic boundaries up to circa 1.5km on all but the eastern, town, sides of the development.  Open to all residents – anyone and everyone, inexperienced or experienced watchers.  The organisation is very informal with the collated sightings report published to interested parties monthly.

o Website: N/A

o email: ttopper@btinternet.com

o Twitter: N/A

o Facebook: N/A

RSPB - South Dorset Local Group

About us: The group offers its members and visitors opportunities to learn more about birds and other wildlife in Dorset and further afield by organising a programme indoor and outdoor events. It also raises money to support local RSPB nature reserves. Evening indoor meetings are held in Dorchester from September to April and field trips are run once or twice a month between September and June. People with less experience or new to birdwatching are particularly welcome.

o Website: https://group.rspb.org.uk/southdorset/

o email: (use Contact page on the website)

o Twitter: N/A

o Facebook: N/A

Shaftesbury Bird and Wildlife Group

About us: The Shaftesbury Bird and Wildlife group was set up in November 2020 by young naturalist Alex Chapman, with the aim to connect bird and wildlife watchers, of all abilities, in the Shaftesbury and North Dorset area. By connecting nature lovers and sharing records, we want to help improve and understand the natural world across the North of Dorset and the surrounding counties.

o Website: N/A

o email: shaftesburyBWG@gmail.com

o Twitter: @shaftesburyBWG

o Facebook: Shaftesbury Bird and Wildlife Group

U3A (University of the Third Age)

U3A is established in most towns and communities across the county, providing education and activity - open to everyone who's no longer in full-time work. Several have birdwatching or nature groups:

Bridport and District - birdwatching (note April 2024: website appears to have been deactivated)

Christchurch - birdwatching

Dorchester and District - birdwatching

Purbeck - nature walks

Shaftesbury and Gillingham - natural history

Verwood - birdwatching

Is there a local birding group in your area?

If so, please tell us about it. If not, why not set one up? People love to get to know others nearby who share their interest. It's easy to connect with people in the age of social media.

Wanted: Articles for the e-Bulletin

We would welcome articles from our members for publication in future e-Bulletins.  Please send suggestions for articles to: admin@dorsetbirds.co.uk

Learn how to be a ringer or nest recorder

Bird Ringing

If you are interested in becoming a bird ringer then you will need to contact the BTO and ask to be put in touch with a licensed Trainer. The details for this can be found at https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/ringing

In Dorset there are several licensed Trainers who may decide to take you on if they have vacancies. If the Trainer you contact cannot take you on, for whatever reason, then they should give you details of another local Trainer.

Nest Finding and Recording

If you are interested to know more about nest finding and recording information about the nests you find, then contact the BTO at https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/nrs

Here you will get full details of the BTO Nest Records Scheme and details of available training in the UK. The BTO organise a mentor scheme where they put you in touch with somebody local who can show you the basics of nest finding and recording.